Mail-bag



3 sheetssheet 1.-

(No Model.)

E. P. TBBTBRS.

` No. 256,408. l

MAIL BAG.

Patnted Apr. 11, 1882.

W T/VESSES A Harney .('No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 2.

B.P.TEETBRS.

MAIL BAG.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. P. TEETERS.

MAIL BAG.

Patnd Apr. 11,1882.

N. PETERS. Pmxulhognpmr. wa

'UNITED i STAT-ns ELISHA P.. TEE'IERS, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO.

iviAlL-BAG,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,408, dated April 11, 1882. Application filed February 23, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern :V

Be it known that I, ELrsHA P. TEETERS, of Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags, and ldo hereby declare the following to be a i'ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artl to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in vmail-bags, and more particularly to that class thereof which are adapted tobe closed by fold- .lss

ing their open ends and attaching the same Vto staples arranged to be engaged with a suitable lock, the object of the present invention being to provide a mail-bag which shall combine simplicity of construction and 'ease of 0p .my improved bag in its adjustment for filling with mailmatter, and Fig. 6 is a modilication of my improved bag.

A is a mail-bag constructed ot' leather, canvas, or any other suitable material. The upper ends of the sides B and C thereof are adapted to be folded and attached to staples D, secured to the side B, said staples being arranged to engage with a lock, E, attached to the outer face ofthe side (l. The upper ends ofthe said sidesB and C are also provided each with four horizontal and two vertical slots, F and G, re' spectively, the horizontal and vertical slots of one side being arranged to register. with the corresponding slots of the other side. These slots,'with the exception of two vertical slots, Gr, ofthe side C, are provided with suitable metalliceyelets,I. The said lock Eis permanently lsecured to the outer face ofthe side G of the bag. It may be of any approved form of construction so long as it is adapted to receive and engage with the staples D after they have had the eyelets of the appropriate slots attached to them, the said staples entering the lock through the vertical slots G of the side C. The lock Eis also preferably adapted to receive a removable-slide, J, toindicate the destination ot' the bag. Grommets K,'inserted in the sides of the bag, are designed to adapt it to be suspended from appropriately-formed hooks L, attached to the rack-rods M, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. That portion of the bag lying between the two staples D is perferably studded with rivets or bosses N for the purpose Ofimparting sufficient rigidity to the leather or canvas at this point,l to hold the staples erect. Loops O, secured to the ends of the bag in the usual manner, are designed to en able it to be readily handled.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings the bag is shown in its adjustment for lling, such adjustment being obtained by folding the ends of thesides B and O inward, and by suspending the bag between arack constructed of two rods, M, by means of hooks L, attached to the said rods and inserted in the grommets K. `In turning rthe ends of the sides inward, as shown, the

lock E and its indicating-slide will be brought infull view, so that when several bags are suspended side by side they are readily distinguished from each other, thus facilitating the distribution of mail-matter` through them.

In closing the bags the corners of the upper ends of the sides B and C are first folded, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings. This manipulation will engage the eyelets'of the outer horizontal slots with their respective staples. It will also register the eyelets of the central horizontal slots with the vertical' slots G in line with thc staples E, upon which the end of the bag is now pressed, causing the staples to pass through the eyelets last mentioned and to enter thelock E through the slots G of the side G of the bag. In the lock the staples will be engaged by suitable lockbolts, by which they will be retained until the same are retracted by the key.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings an old-style bag is shown as provided with my invention. This is effected by cutting od the ends of the bag and 4then securing a belt, P, to it, the said belt being adapted to be closed and locked in accordance with theinvention shownin the other gures ofthe drawings. In applying th'e belt P the bag should be cutaway, as indicated by IOO the dotted line R, to avoid any extraJ thiekwith the same number of horizontal and verti- 1 nesses of leather or canvas. cal slots, substantially as set forth.

What I claim s- In testimony whereoflhave signed this speci- A mail-bagthe sides of which are of the iezttionin the presence of two subscribing wit- 5 same length, one side beingr provided with messes.

fourhorizontal and with twovertieal slots, and l with two staples which are secured to its outer Witnesses: face and located respectively below the said FRANK C. BOWEN, slots, the other side of' the bag being provided HERMAN MORAN.

ELISHA l. TEETERS. 

